Do Machines Have a High Success Rate in Translation?

The rapid advancements in AI and machine translation have removed language barriers and connected individuals and businesses around the globe. Computer-Aided Translations or Machine Translations have proved to be remarkably proficient over time. Previously, human translators were considered the go-to solutions for bridging linguistic gaps, but now machine translations have slowly improved their translation capabilities. However, many people still are of the view that human translators or computer-aided translation are far better than machines because of their ability to actively use their minds. They can smartly convert the source text into the target language while considering the cultural context in mind which will not be possible in any form of machine translation. 

Has any of your friends got confused about whether to avail human translation or machine translation? Or have you ever wondered what’s the difference between Computer-Aided Translation (CAT) and Machine Translation (MT)? You and your friends are not the only ones wondering, many others share the same thought. 

In this blog, we will provide you with details regarding Computer-Aided Translation and Machine Translation so we can together make a certain prediction about whether or, not these types of translation can replace traditional human-made translation and interpretation. 

Difference Between Machine Translation And Computer-Aided Translation

These two terms sound very identical, but there’s a very clear difference. It comes down to who’s finally responsible for a translation. 

Computer-aided translation gives you the best of both worlds. Unlike Machine Translation (MT) where the computer does all of the work, CAT allows the human translator to use software tools to assist and enhance the translation process. CAT puts the human translator definitely in control. Whereas, machine translation depends completely on automated systems to generate translation using algorithms and pre-existing databases of linguistic knowledge, without direct human oversight. 

The main difference between them is that with MT you can rely on the machine to do the translation job for you. With CAT the machine is simply taking care of the easily programmed parts of translation so you, the expert, can put the brain and experience to work on the more difficult and tricky aspects of any translation.   

Purpose of using CAT tools

Computer-assisted translation tools or CAT tools were developed to make the translation process easier for its users by building and updating translation memory banks during the translation process. The main benefit of using CAT Tools is the extreme gain in time and efficiency. These tools reduce the need for manual data input, thanks to the pre-translated grammatical and orthographic suggestions. For example, such software ensures consistency when recurring sentences or terms appear later in the text for translation.   

Possible Reasons for High Success Rate in Machine Translation

Machine translation has evolved a lot since its inception. Initially, professionals found various inaccuracies and random phrases in automated translation which made its reliability quite skeptical. However, with the advancement in technology, machine translation has reshaped the landscape. Various factors might contribute to the high success rate of machine translation. Some of them have been mentioned below: